Building block



R. B. DULA.

BUILDING BLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I2, 19w.

Patented Min. 2%, 1922.

INVENTOR Z 5 Z w M F u g M M w k BY A L W A TOPNEYS PAT-T OFFICE.

ROBERT B. DULA, 015 NEW YORK, N. Y.

BUILDING BLOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented M r, 28 1922 Application filed June 12, 1919. Serial No. 303,710.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, ROBERT B. DULA, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Building Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to building blocks, particularly those made to simulate bricks and artificial or imitation stone blocks.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a building block wherein the face i subdivided by lines or courses 'of exposed cement or mortar thus simulating the appearance of a plurality of bricks or stones bonded by mortar or cement. My blocks may be readily and economically molded and may be of any predetermined or selected size. 'VVhen a multiplicity of these blocks are employed, as in the construction of a wall, the exposed face of the finished wall will have the appearance of being composed of a large number of small bricks or stones, with the mortar line or joints visible in the usual manner, although, as a matter of fact, the wall will be made up of a multiplicity of relatively large molded blocks.

Furthermore, in the practice of my invention, the mortar lines or joints and the-brick or stone-like sections marked off thereby may be arranged to imitate any design or form of bonding employed in brick laying or stone masonry work.

It is also my purpose to provide a building block having the body thereof composed of a hard and set cementitious material and having the face section thereof subdivided by grooves through which parts of a mortarlike layer on the bod are exposed in imitation of ordinary mortar lines or joints, the back of the block being preferably provided with a smooth unbroken and uniform surface, preferably in the nature of an enameled coating or face to provide an interior finish to take the place of the usual plastering.

lVith the above recited objects, and others of a similar nature in view, my invention consists in the improved building block, set forth in and falling within the scope of the appended claims.

, ment, or other suitable material.

In the accompanying drawing:

F igure 1, i a perspective view of a buildmg block embodying my invention, with the back face thereof exposed.

Figure 2, is a similar View but with the front face of the block exposed.

The central portion or body 2 of the block may be of any suitable cementitious or plast1c material, such as concrete, crushed cinders, shale, broken stone or gravel and ce- The body ma be provided with fiues or openings 3, or these may be omitted. One face of the body, usually the face which is to be a part of the inward wall of the building, is covered with a layer 1 of suitable plaster, such for example as an enamel-like plaster, which constitutes the smooth unbroken back face of the block. On the opposite face of the block is a layer 5 of high grade mortar or cement, which may be of a white or grayish color or may be otherwise colored as desired, one of the objects being to have this mortar of a color which contrast sharply to the major area of the adjacent face of the completed block so that the mortar lines or joints will be clearly defined, as in the case of ordinary brick or stone work. Upon this mortarlayer 5 is superposed a layer 60f suitable thickness of cementitious material which forms the front or exposed face of the block. This material should be of a color contrasting more or less sharply with the color of the mortar layer 5. For example, if the layer 5 is white, gray or black, the layer 6 may be red, yellow or salmon color, to imitate brick work, or a deep brown or gray to imitate stone. The outer layer 6 is lined or grooved in a suitable design with grooves 7 extending down to the surface of the mortar layer 5, the grooves 7 being, of course, arranged in any suitable design or pattern to simulate stone or brick work. Since the grooves 7 extend down to the mortar layer surfaces 9 of the mortar are exposed at the bottoms of the grooves where they appear in more or less contrasting color to the outer surface of the separate blocks 8 of the outer cementitious layer produced by the described grooving. Usually the exposed mortar lines 9 are formed more or less convexly, as sufliciently indicated at side edges of the block in the drawings. This convex curvature of the mortar lines accentuates the simulation of the appearance of properly pointed masonry.

Each block, composed, as described, has the exterior appearance of being built up of a plurality of bricks or stones united by line of mortar and when a multiplicity of vantages from the standpoints of cleanliness and economy in construction.

While I have shown only one specific embodiment of the invention, it is'evident that variations may be made in many respects and I contemplate the employment of any structures wh ch are properly within the scope of the appended claims:

1. A molded building block having a front'face sub-divided by lines of exposed mortar to ive said face the appearance of being com osed of a plurality of relatively small e ements, and a back face consisting of a smooth enamel-like layer having an unbroken surface finish.

2. A molded building block having a front face subdivided by courses of exposed mortar in contrast to said face whereby said face has the'appearance of being composed of a plurality of relatively small blocks and a back face formed of a layer of applie material having a smooth, unbroken finish.

3. A molded building block comprising a body portion, a layer of cementitious material on one side thereof, and a facing layer of plastic material covering the ma or portion of the cementitious material, said cementitious material being exposed at certain parts of the face to give said face theappearance of being composed of a plurality of relatively small blocks.

4.. A molded building block comprising a body portion, a layer of mortar material on one side thereof, and a facing layer imposed upon the mortar layer, said facing layer having grooves formed therein through w ich the mortar layer is exposed whereby said face has the appearance of being composed of a pluralityof small elements.

5. A molded building block comprising a body portion, a back face of a different material than the body portion and having an outer finish suitable for an interior wall surface, and a front facecomprising a layer of cement-like material and courses or lines of mortar exposed through grooves formedin the face layer in contrast to the latter.

6. A molded building block comprising a body portion having an applied smooth unbroken, enamel-like back face, and a front section comprising two layers of contrasting cement-like material imposed one on the other, certain portions of the inner-layer being exposed to view in contrast to the other layer.

7. A building block comprising a body, a layer of mortar-like material covering one surface of the body and a layer of surface material overlying the mortar-material and provided with grooves extending down to the mortar la er and arranged so that the surface material simulates masonryconstruction, including a number of separate pieces, the surfaces of the mortar layer exposed at ,the bottoms of the grooves being convexlyformed to accentuate the contrast between the surface material and the mortar lines.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my hand.

ROBERT B. DULA. 

